Endocarditis

Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of your heart (endocardium).

Endocarditis generally occurs when bacteria or other germs from another part of your body, such as your mouth, spread through your bloodstream and attach to damaged areas in your heart. Left untreated, endocarditis can damage or destroy your heart valves and can lead to life-threatening complications. Treatments for endocarditis include antibiotics and, in certain cases, surgery.

Endocarditis is uncommon in people with healthy hearts. People at greatest risk of endocarditis have damaged heart valves, artificial heart valves or other heart defects.

When to see a doctor

If you develop signs or symptoms of endocarditis, see your doctor right away — especially if you have risk factors for this serious infection, such as a heart defect or a previous case of endocarditis.

Although less serious conditions can cause similar signs and symptoms, you won't know for sure until you're evaluated.

Endocarditis occurs when germs enter your bloodstream, travel to your heart, and attach to abnormal heart valves or damaged heart tissue. Bacteria cause most cases, but fungi or other microorganisms also may be responsible.

Sometimes the culprit is one of many common bacteria that live in your mouth, throat or other parts of your body. The offending organism may enter your bloodstream through:

An infection or other medical condition. Bacteria may spread from an infected area, such as a skin sore. Gum disease, a sexually transmitted infection or an intestinal disorder — such as inflammatory bowel disease — also may give bacteria the opportunity to enter your bloodstream.

Catheters or needles. Bacteria can enter your body through a catheter — a thin tube that doctors sometimes use to inject or remove fluid from the body. The bacteria that can cause endocarditis can also enter your bloodstream through the needles used for tattooing or body piercing. Contaminated needles and syringes are a special concern for people who use intravenous (IV) drugs.

Usually, your immune system destroys bacteria that make it into your bloodstream. Even if bacteria reach your heart, they may pass through without causing an infection.

Most people who develop endocarditis have a diseased or damaged heart valve — an ideal spot for bacteria to settle. This damaged tissue in the endocardium provides bacteria with the roughened surface they need to attach and multiply. Endocarditis does occasionally occur on previously normal heart valves.

Endocarditis

If your heart is healthy, you're unlikely to develop endocarditis. The germs that cause infection tend to stick to and multiply in damaged or surgically implanted heart valves.

Those at highest risk of endocarditis are those who have:

Artificial heart valves. Germs are more likely to attach to an artificial (prosthetic) heart valve than to a normal heart valve.

Congenital heart defects. If you were born with certain types of heart defects, your heart may be more susceptible to infection.

A history of endocarditis. An episode of endocarditis damages heart tissue and valves, increasing the risk of a future heart infection.

Damaged heart valves. Certain medical conditions — such as rheumatic fever or infection — can damage or scar one or more of your heart valves, making them more prone to endocarditis.

History of intravenous (IV) illegal drug use. People who use illegal drugs by injecting them are at a greater risk of endocarditis. The needles used to inject drugs can be contaminated with the bacteria that can cause endocarditis.

If you have a known heart defect or heart valve problem, ask your doctor about your risk of developing endocarditis. Even if your heart condition has been repaired or hasn't caused symptoms, you may be at risk.

Chambers and valves of the heart

Stroke and organ damage. In endocarditis, clumps of bacteria and cell fragments (vegetations) form in your heart at the site of the infection. These clumps can break loose and travel to your brain, lungs, abdominal organs, kidneys or extremities. This may cause various problems, including stroke or damage to other organs or tissues.

Infections in other parts of your body. Endocarditis can cause you to develop pockets of collected pus (abscesses) in other parts of your body, including the brain, kidneys, spleen or liver. An abscess may develop in the heart muscle itself as well, causing an abnormal heartbeat. Severe abscesses may require surgery to treat them.

Heart failure. Left untreated, endocarditis can damage your heart valves and permanently destroy your heart's inner lining. This can cause your heart to work harder to pump blood, eventually causing heart failure — a chronic condition in which your heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. If the infection progresses untreated, it's usually fatal.

You're likely to start by seeing your family doctor or an emergency room physician. Or, when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred to a doctor trained in diagnosing and treating heart conditions (cardiologist).

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, and for how long. Also note if you've had similar symptoms that have come and gone in the past.

Make a list of your key medical information, including other recent health problems you've had and the names of any prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you're taking.

Find a family member or friend who can come with you to the appointment, if possible. Someone who accompanies you can help remember what the doctor says.

Write down the questions you want to ask your doctor.

For endocarditis, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?

What kinds of tests do I need? How do I need to prepare for the tests?

What treatment do you recommend?

How soon after I begin treatment will I start to feel better?

What are the possible side effects?

Am I at risk of long-term complications from this condition? Will it come back?

How often will I need follow-up for this condition?

Do I need to take preventive antibiotics for certain medical or dental procedures?

I have other medical conditions. How can I best manage these conditions together?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, including:

What are your symptoms?

Did your symptoms come on gradually or suddenly? When?

Have you had similar symptoms in the past?

Are you having difficulty breathing?

Have you recently had an infection?

Have you recently had a fever?

Have you recently had any medical or dental procedures that used needles or catheters?

Have you ever used intravenous drugs?

Have you recently lost weight without trying?

Have you been diagnosed with any other medical conditions, especially heart murmurs?

Do any of your first-degree relatives — parents, siblings or children — have a history of heart disease?

Your doctor may suspect endocarditis based on your medical history and physical signs and symptoms, such as fever. Using a stethoscope to listen to your heart, your doctor may hear a new heart murmur or a change in a previous heart murmur — possible signs of endocarditis.

The infection can mimic other illnesses in its early stages. Various tests may be necessary to help make the diagnosis:

Blood tests. The most important test is a blood culture used to identify bacteria in the bloodstream. Blood tests can also help your doctor identify certain conditions, including anemia — a shortage of healthy red blood cells that can be a sign of endocarditis.

Transesophageal echocardiogram. An echocardiogram uses sound waves to produce images of your heart at work. This type of echocardiogram allows your doctor to get a closer look at your heart valves.

It's often used to check for signs of infection. During this test, an ultrasound device is passed through your mouth and into your esophagus — the tube that connects your mouth and stomach.

Electrocardiogram (ECG). Your doctor may order this noninvasive test if he or she thinks endocarditis may be causing an irregular heartbeat. During an ECG, sensors (electrodes) that can detect the electrical activity of your heart are attached to your chest and sometimes to your limbs. An ECG measures the timing and duration of each electrical phase in your heartbeat.

Chest X-ray. X-ray images help your doctor see the condition of your lungs and heart. Your doctor can use X-ray images to see if endocarditis has caused your heart to enlarge or if infection has spread to your lungs.

Computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). You may need a CT or MRI scan of your brain, chest or other parts of your body if your doctor thinks that infection has spread to these areas.

The first line of treatment for endocarditis is antibiotics. Sometimes, if your heart valve is damaged by your infection, surgery is necessary.

Antibiotics

If you have endocarditis, you may need high doses of intravenous (IV) antibiotics in the hospital. Blood tests may help identify the type of microorganism that's infecting your heart. This information will help your doctor choose the best antibiotic or combination of antibiotics to fight the infection.

You will usually need to take antibiotics for two to six weeks or longer to clear up the infection. Once your fever and the worst of your signs and symptoms have passed, you may be able to leave the hospital and continue IV antibiotic therapy with visits to your doctor's office or at home with home-based care. You'll need to see your doctor regularly to make sure your treatment is working.

Report to your doctor any signs or symptoms that your infection is getting worse, such as:

Fever

Chills

Headaches

Joint pain

Shortness of breath

Diarrhea, a rash, itching or joint pain may indicate a reaction to an antibiotic — another reason to call your doctor.

See your doctor immediately if you experience shortness of breath or swelling in your legs, ankles or feet. These signs and symptoms may indicate heart failure.

Surgery

If the infection damages your heart valves, you may have symptoms and complications for years after treatment. Sometimes surgery is needed to treat persistent infections or to replace a damaged valve. Surgery is also sometimes needed to treat endocarditis that's caused by a fungal infection.

Depending on your condition, your doctor may recommend either repairing your damaged valve or replacing it with an artificial valve made of animal tissue or man-made materials.

If you're at risk of endocarditis, let all of your health care providers know. You may want to request an endocarditis wallet card from the American Heart Association. Check with your local chapter or print the card from the association's website.

Avoid procedures that may lead to skin infections, such as body piercings or tattoos.

Seek prompt medical attention if you develop any type of skin infection or open cuts or sores that don't heal properly.

Preventive antibiotics

Certain dental and medical procedures may allow bacteria to enter your bloodstream. Antibiotics taken before these procedures can help destroy or control the harmful bacteria that may lead to endocarditis.

Because people with the following heart conditions are at risk of more-serious outcomes from endocarditis, they may need to take preventive antibiotics before certain medical or dental procedures to prevent endocarditis:

Artificial (prosthetic) heart valve

Previous endocarditis infection

Certain types of congenital heart defects

Heart transplant complicated by heart valve problems

Antibiotics are recommended before only the following procedures:

Certain dental procedures (those that cut your gum tissue or part of the teeth)

Antibiotics are no longer recommended before all dental procedures or for procedures of the urinary tract or gastrointestinal system.

If you've had to take preventive antibiotics in the past before your dental exams, you may be concerned about these changes. In the past, you were likely told to get antibiotics because of a concern that common dental procedures increased your risk of endocarditis. But as doctors have learned more about endocarditis prevention, they've realized that endocarditis is much more likely to occur from exposure to random germs than from a standard dental exam or surgery.

This doesn't mean it's not important to take good care of your teeth through brushing and flossing. There is some concern that infections in your mouth from poor oral hygiene might increase the risk of germs entering your bloodstream. In addition to brushing and flossing, regular dental exams are an important part of maintaining good oral health.